SPEED AND STAMINA

Henk Steenkamp

There will be two features at the Friday Fairview Poly meeting of eight races – one dominated by speed and in the other one stamina comes into play.

The speed will be on in the R175 000 Fairview Flying Five over 1000m (Non-Black Type race 7 at 16:10) and in the other feature the focus will be on the three-year-old fillies in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Oaks over 2000m, race 4 at 14:25.

NOTE THE CHANGE OF SURFACE

Despite no further rainfall it was found that certain sections of the track are inconsistent and the decision was made on Thursday afternoon to move the meeting from turf to the poly. Distances will remain the same.

Please check for late scratchings.

In the Oaks, Lotus Island can give the Alan Greeff stable yet another feature win in a great season.

The daughter of Ideal World looks like a progressive sort and hasn’t put a foot wrong since relocating to Fairview.

Lotus Island is a winner of her last three starts over this distance. With champion jockey Richard Fourie in the saddle, Lotus Island is the horse to beat.

In the small field of seven runners, Greeff has solid backup in First Wish who has also won her last three starts.

The two visitors Tap Shoes (Justin Snaith) and Greenlitealltheway (Glen Kotzen) will be ready to pounce if the Greeff machine is not firing on all cylinders.

They were well beaten by Fairy Knight in the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup, but Kingdundee, Mercantour and Anuschka’s World are back for an exciting rematch in the Flying Five.

With Fairy Knight not in the lineup, Kingdundee should take a power of beating but the change of surface might be a problem for him. He has never been on the poly.

He showed he is a class act when he won his penultimate run over this track and trip.

The Gavin Smith stable is confident of a good run from the son of The United States with Craig Zackey back in the saddle.

Mercantour hasn’t won over this distance but gets the blinkers fitted to sharpen him up. The Greeff stable feels he is in with a shout.

Anuschka’s World has been consistent over track and trip and another competitive effort is expected for the Kelly Mitchley yard.

There are others in the race capable of upsetting the applecart but the winner should come from these three.

The first race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate, gets the meeting underway at 12:40 and is also the first leg of the Bipot.

The Place Accumulator starts with the second race at 13:15. Race three is the Derby Plate over 2000m, which is the first leg of the Pick Six.

Only five three-year-old will face the starter at 13:50 for the Derby Plate. Waheed (Zietsman Oosthuizen) should be too good for the rest with Master Forester (Greeff) the only danger.

The Oaks is the first leg of Jackpot One and in the first leg of Jackpot Two, race 5 at 15:00, the three-year-old visiting filly Blossoming Mind (Snaith) is a big runner is she takes to the poly.

She gets the blinkers fitted to up her concentration. Muzi Yeni is in the saddle and can expect strong opposition from the likes of Twilight Bay (Smith) and Genteel (Mitchley).

There are a number of strong favourites to structure your bets around on Friday – as always, let’s give it a go!